Gillingham face another away trip in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy – and a potential £500,000 payout says they will be giving their all to reach the final.

Saturday morning’s area quarter-final draw paired the Gills with fellow League 1 side Crawley.

Gills chairman Paul Scally said: “The final is at Wembley and I’m sure Barry Fry (Peterborough director of football) told me a couple of years ago that it was worth £500,000 to Peterborough when they went there, so it’s not to be taken lightly, nor will we take it lightly.”

Peter Taylor’s side have already played, and won, twice on the road in the competition to reach this stage.

Last Tuesday Taylor’s side beat Colchester on penalties in their second round match. A 1-0 win at Stevenage had seen them progress past the opening stage.

Mr Scally was at his home in Dubai during the match, listening to the commentary on the radio from Colchester. But he revealed how his mother-in-law’s arrival in the country interrupted his enjoyment.

“I had to dash to Dubai airport just as the final whistle went,” said Mr Scally, writing in his programme notes at the weekend. “I called our vice-chairman Mike Anderson as I drove down Sheik Zayeed Road and he commentated live as the penalties were taken.

“The excitement was unbelievable, especially when Stuart Nelson saved two penalties. But I couldn’t believe it when Mike told me he was taking the fourth strike, then scored and won the game for us.

“It’s not often I’m grinning when I see my mother-in-law, but I was grinning when she climbed into my car on Tuesday night...just for a while!”

Crawley made it through to the competition’s third round after wins over Cambridge United (2-0) and Luton Town (1-0). The tie is due to take place in the week beginning November 10.